Claire comes to me with a bright smile and links her arm with mine.

She acted intimately, as if reuniting with a long-lost family member. It was a much more welcoming and exuberant greeting than when I last encountered her and Hila.

Riley wanted to immediately push her arm away, but with so many eyes watching, she simply couldn’t bring herself to do so.

In any case, she was family, and there was nothing to be gained by showing family discord in a place like this, so Riley tried to manage her expression.

“Your existence has finally been revealed to the world? You must have felt stifled all this time, but now you must feel relieved.”

“I wasn’t particularly stifled.”

“Really? I was extremely frustrated. You acted like you were about to get married any minute, but there was no progress at all, so I wondered what on earth you were doing. But a wedding ceremony at the end of the year, why? Just hurry up and get it over with.”

“It’s consideration for the Academy’s schedule.”

“Ah, is that so? If it were me, I would have rushed the wedding even more, considering life at the Academy. That way, it would be easier to build connections within the Academy, right?”

Claire maintained a smiling face while shooting a look of contempt. Her acting skills were remarkable.

In fact, she might have been better off preparing to be a theater actress. With this level of acting, she could have already reached the top of the theater world and more.

“… Can you let go of this? I don’t think we’re close enough to be linking arms and chatting affectionately.”

“Just endure it. What can we do? We’re sisters after all.”

“……”

“At first, you know, I was so angry and irritated I couldn’t stand it. Why did such great fortune go to you, elder sister? Honestly, it hurt, but now I’m trying not to be angry. I’ve come to think that the more I waste emotions, the more I lose.”

“So, what are you trying to do…?”

“Just, I want to get along well with you now, elder sister. Wouldn’t that allow me to pick up a few more crumbs that fall?”

Why does she always think only of herself? Why is she always so self-centered? She doesn’t know how to think from others’ perspectives at all. That’s why she acts so shamelessly like this.

When did she ever treat people like humans instead of insects? And now, she’s not even trying to disguise her words, but blatantly announcing that she wants to ‘get along for her own benefit’.

Riley removed her hand.

“I’m sorry, but I have no desire to get along well with you.”

“We have no choice, we’re family after all.”

“You refused to acknowledge me as family no matter what, and now you keep saying family, family only when it’s convenient.”

“Well, back then you were just a useless burden, but now you’re not, right?”

It was a talent, if you could call it that, to keep smiling while spewing abuse to someone’s face non-stop.

Riley wanted to get rid of her from her sight immediately, but with so many eyes watching, she couldn’t completely push her away.

Judging by how she was deliberately trying to get under her skin, it was clear she was determined to ruin this party.

Doesn’t she seem like someone desperate for a fight? If Riley gave in and started a fight with Claire here, it would ruin the party Givnen had spent so long preparing.

Considering what happened at the last meeting, there was no guarantee Claire wouldn’t do something crazy.

It would be best not to provoke her too much, as she might do something insane and ruin the party, but as she kept irritating Riley’s nerves, Riley’s annoyance was gradually rising.

“Seeing you makes me think I need to get away from the Eadalyn name even faster.”

“Interesting, are you saying you’ll cut ties with us after marriage?”

“It’s not impossible.”

“Ah, right. But that won’t be easy, you know? One way or another, we’re ‘family’, elder sister. It’s not easy to overturn that family relationship or dig up old affairs. Don’t think that even the Archmage of Horizon will easily handle your personal family matters. You’ll always be a member of our family, no matter what. Abandoning the Eadalyn name? That’s impossible!”

“……”

“And now that you’re about to become a duchess, isn’t it better not to create any flaws that might tarnish you in others’ eyes? It would be quite a spectacle if family matters became the talk of the town, right? Do you want to publicly reveal that we’re a dysfunctional family? Who do you think would suffer the most?”

A dysfunctional family, she says. Claire unhesitatingly spat out words that were like spitting in her own face. Riley stared blankly at her, at a loss for words, then sighed.

Then she walked past Claire. She thought Claire would cling to her persistently, but for some reason, Claire just smiled as she watched Riley walk away.

‘Always like this.’

Psychologically cornering and pressuring people was also one of Claire’s specialties. In the past, I might have just accepted her words as right and obeyed.

But not anymore. Riley found Claire’s still-overbearing manner ridiculous.

This wasn’t because of faith that Givnen would protect her. It was because she had finally escaped the shadow of Eadalyn and faced reality squarely with a clear mind.

‘… You’re still treating me like a fool. Well, fine. I’d rather prefer it.’

If Claire wanted to think of her as a stupid idiot like before, Riley welcomed it.

It would take a long time, but she would definitely remove Uncle, Aunt, and Claire from her life. They didn’t deserve even a shred of sympathy.

“Riley!”

Riley smiled at Hila, erasing her unpleasant feelings about Claire. Hila hugged Riley tightly and whispered.

“Congratulations, you’re now officially the Archmage’s fiancée.”

“… Thank you.”

“Did you see the expressions of those who used to bully you? I thought I was going to die laughing.”

“Yeah, they seemed quite shocked.”

“They won’t bully you anymore, right? I’m curious how everyone will react when we go to the Academy tomorrow.”

Rivne, who was listening to the conversation with her arm linked, asked.

“Bullying? Who bullied whom? Don’t tell me you were bullied by them?”

The very person who had caused her to be targeted by Josephine Lukan looked at Riley as if hearing this for the first time. Riley smiled awkwardly at this.

“Why? Did I do something to fall out of their favor?”

“No, it’s not that… I guess they just looked down on me for being an outsider.”

Rivne knows nothing about the incident with Josephine. I didn’t think it was necessary to tell her, and I still don’t.

Of course, even if Rivne learned the full story of the incident, she probably wouldn’t step up or offer help.

So I deliberately made up a suitable excuse. In fact, being an ‘outsider’ was really an all-purpose shield. After all, ‘outsiders’ were practically untouchables within Horizon Academy.

“Focusing on studies should be more than enough, I wonder if they’ll even graduate properly at this rate, being so childish. Tsk, they’re still so immature.”

Rivne clicked her tongue while looking at Josephine Lukan’s group, then suggested moving to a place where they couldn’t be seen, saying she was sick of looking at them.

Riley and Hila followed the leader’s order without a word.

Now they could finally enjoy the party comfortably. Except for Rivne, of course.

Rivne was as popular as Givnen. Perhaps because she was from the Rianster family, there were quite a few people coming to greet her constantly.

Of course, Rivne didn’t welcome them as warmly as Givnen did. She surveyed her surroundings with a solemn expression like a wild pride leader, maintaining the appearance of a general who seemed ready to wage war at any moment.

Perhaps because her dislike of unnecessary small talk was well known to the people here, the conversations that followed one after another were not long.

Thanks to this, Riley and Hila could enjoy the prepared desserts and champagne with a slightly more relaxed mind.

“By the way, no one’s coming to greet you? They’re just stealing glances.”

“I prefer it this way.”

“Even so… how come not even one person comes?”

In response to Hila’s grumbling, Rivne, who was standing with her arms linked, answered.

“Elder sister hasn’t officially debuted in this social circle yet. Moreover, since they don’t have any information, they’re just observing and hesitating to approach.”

Just then, someone was about to approach Riley but stopped. It was because Rivne glared at them. Observing this, Hila immediately understood the situation. Hila whispered in a small voice into Riley’s ear.

‘I think they’re all afraid of your sister-in-law, not you.’

Riley looked at Rivne.

Upon closer inspection, she was standing guard like a knight, maintaining a serious expression.

She instinctively bristled when strangers tried to approach, and as a result, most people either couldn’t approach or only managed a brief greeting to Rivne.

She already had a cold impression, and with her eyes narrowed and a serious expression, she looked chillingly intimidating enough to make one’s knees weak.

Considering how she had urged to avoid mixing with people at the party as much as possible before coming here, it seemed like she might be trying to block conversations altogether.

‘Reassuring.’

She felt really fortunate that Rivne was by her side.

After all, the very situation of having to converse with people she was meeting for the first time was burdensome and stressful.

Although she had received some rushed etiquette education before coming, even that was at a cramming level, and there was a risk of being picked apart if she made even a small mistake. It was such a relief that Rivne was directly intervening to prevent that from happening.

Riley looked around while sipping champagne. She could still feel the gazes of numerous unspecified individuals pouring in, furtively. When eyes met, they would quickly look away, and this repeated when eyes met again.

Amidst all this, she caught sight of Ryan.

‘… Uncle?’

Ryan was alone, and he looked very anxious.

Is he nervous because he can’t blend in with the people here? Just as she thought that, someone approached him. It was a knight in knight’s attire. Ryan looked around and then quietly followed him.

‘Why would Uncle with a knight from the Imperial family…?’

As Ryan and the knight disappeared from the party venue, Riley became confused.

She knew he was in contact with Count Ermeints. However, this was a place where Count Ermeints was absent. There was no one to watch his back.

Of course, he could mingle with the people here using his name as Givnen’s father-in-law, but if that was the case, why would he need to leave the party venue?

Why would an Imperial knight secretly call him away to change locations?

Riley, who was about to follow him, hesitated.

‘No, I shouldn’t leave here recklessly.’

It’s too dangerous to follow him alone in a situation where I don’t know who he’s going to meet or where he’s going.

If I get involved in unnecessary danger like last time, it’s Givnen who will be harmed. Sack absolutely told me not to leave the party venue.

But should I just leave my suspicious uncle alone?

Riley looked around for Sack and Givnen. Givnen was busy receiving guests far away, and Sack was assisting him by his side.

There doesn’t seem to be a chance to speak privately due to the crowd of people around.

Then…

Riley took out a piece of paper she had brought just in case. It was a magic paper often used to communicate with Sack in emergencies. The problem was that there was no quill pen.

“Hila, do you happen to have a quill pen?”

“No, why suddenly a quill pen?”

“Just… Rivne, do you have one?”

“Of course not, who would carry around a cumbersome pen when coming to a place like this?”

It would be nice to use telepathy magic at times like this. Of course, even if magic could be used, using telepathy magic right now would be impossible.

Telepathy was an interactive magic that couldn’t be used unilaterally, and it could only be used on designated counterparts in a state where a simple contract had been made between both parties.

For Riley, who didn’t even know how to use telepathy magic and hadn’t made a mutual contract with Givnen or Sack, it was impossible to convey this information to them via telepathy.

“What’s going on that you’re like this?”

“… It’s nothing.”

If I say that Uncle’s actions are suspicious and that we need to follow him, both Hila and Rivne would think it’s strange. There’s nothing to gain by telling them about my personal family matters.

Just as I was thinking about borrowing a pen from other people who might have one.

‘… Weren’t the Imperial knights only able to be commanded by the direct line of the Emperor?’

Riley instinctively started looking for the princes.

The Emperor was absent due to poor health, and when the Emperor didn’t attend, the Empress and Imperial consorts naturally didn’t participate either. The few princesses and princes’ consorts were all absent as well.

Ryan had no connection to the Imperial family. He was just from a baronial family, and this was essentially his first official event attendance since settling in the capital. He had no acquaintance with the nobles here, let alone with the Imperial family.

‘All the princes are focusing on trying to win Givnen over to their side because of the struggle for the throne… Then did one of the princes approach Uncle?’

If one of the princes wanted to see Ryan secretly, they probably would have contacted him in advance, knowing that Ryan was to become Givnen’s father-in-law. If that’s the case, then there’s nothing strange about the situation, but…

‘If the Imperial family is already attempting to contact Uncle… Is the name of Rianster that impressive?’

My head is throbbing.

Whatever it is, Uncle’s current actions didn’t seem to be very helpful to Givnen.

Recently communicating secretly with Count Ermeints, and now leaving the party venue discreetly with an Imperial knight. What on earth is he plotting behind the scenes?

As time passed, the anxiety grew. Because Uncle might be using Givnen’s name behind his back to scheme something.

Should I have followed him after all? It’s probably too late to follow now. I don’t even know where they went.

“I’ll be back shortly, I’m going to the restroom.”

Am I being too sensitive? My head is throbbing.

Riley headed to the restroom to organize her thoughts and cool her head alone. The restroom is inside the party venue, so there shouldn’t be much danger in going alone. Rivne and Hila told Riley to hurry back as they let her go.

Arriving at the restroom, Riley tried to cool her head while washing her hands with cold water.

‘I should find a chance to relay this information to Givnen…’

There are too many people around him. It’s frustrating that I can’t even pull Sack away from Givnen’s side. Should I wait until the party ends after all? But that might be too late.

‘Should I have followed them? No, it would have been meaningless even if I had. If they called him secretly in the first place, they wouldn’t talk where others could see them anyway.’

At this point, trying to further trace Uncle’s whereabouts is meaningless.

For now, it’s better to focus on the party and think about this later. At present, it seems best to find significance in the fact that I’ve noticed Uncle’s suspicious actions.

Having organized her thoughts, Riley left the restroom. And just as she was about to return to where Rivne and Hila were.

Someone grabbed Riley’s shoulder, stopping her.

“Lady Eadalyn.”

“… Your Highness, the 7th Prince?”